WORLD SPORTS DIARY MARCH 2001

March 01-4	Golf: Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates Golf Club, Dubai
March 02	Rugby League: Super League season starts, England
March 03	Rugby Union: Italy v France, Wales v Ireland, England v Scotland
March 03	Boxing: WBA world heavyweight title, Evander Holyfield v John Ruiz, Las Vegas, Nevada
March 04	Formula One: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne, Australia
March 05-18	Tennis: Masters Series, Indian Wells, California
March 06-7	Soccer: Champions League second stage group matches, Europe
March 06-11	Bobsleigh: World Cup finals, Lake Placid, New York
March 07-11	Cricket: Sri Lanka v England, Second Test, Kandy, Sri Lanka
March 07-11	Skiing: Alpine World Cup finals, Are, Sweden
March 08/15	Soccer: UEFA Cup quarter finals, Europe
March 08-11	Golf: Qatar Masters, Doha Golf Club, Qatar
March 08-12	Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan, First Test, Auckland, New Zealand
March 09-11	Athletics: World Indoor Championships, Lisbon, Portugal
March 09-11	Rallying: Rallye de Portugal, Porto, Portugal 
March 09-11	Speed skating: World Championships, Salt Lake City, Utah
March 09-13	Cricket: West Indies v South Africa, First Test, Guyana
March 10-18	Snooker: Asian Masters, Bangkok, Thailand
March 11	Motorcycling: World Superbikes Championship, Valencia, Spain
March 11	Motor sport: CART series starts; Monterrey GP, Mexico
March 11-15	Cricket: India v Australia, Second Test, Calcutta, India
March 11-18	Cycling: Paris-Nice race, France
March 13-14	Soccer: Champions League second stage group matches, Europe
March 13-15	Horseracing: National Hunt Festival, Cheltenham, England
March 14-17	Snowboard: World Cup finals, Ruka, Finland
March 17	Rugby Union: Six Nations; France v Wales, Scotland v Italy
March 18	Formula One: Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang, Malaysia
March 18	Motor sport: IRL Indy Racing League series starts, Phoenix, Arizona
March 18-25	Ice skating: World Championships, Vancouver, Canada
March 19-25	Golf: The Players Championship, Sawgrass, Florida
March 19-Apr 1	Tennis: Masters Series; Ericsson Open, Miami, Florida
March 22	Horseracing: UK Flat racing season starts, Doncaster, England
March 23-25	Rallying: Rallye Catalunya Costa Brava, Lloret de Mar, Spain 
March 24	Horseracing: Dubai World Cup (Emirates World Series), Nad Al Sheba, Dubai
March 24	Rowing: Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, River Thames, England
March 24	Rugby Union: Six Nations; Ireland v England, Lansdowne Road, Dublin
March 24-25	Athletics: World Cross-Country Championships, Dublin, Ireland
March 24-28	Soccer: World Cup 2002 qualifying matches, Europe, Americas
March 30-Apr 1	Speed skating: World Short Track Championships, Seoul, South Korea
March 31-Apr 8	Curling: World Championships, Lausanne, Switzerland

OTHER EVENTS
March 01-3	Cricket: Colts XI v England, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka
March 01-4	Golf: Australian LadiesÕ Masters, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
March 02-4	Speed skating: World Cup, Calgary, Canada
March 02-5	Cricket: Busta Shield final, West Indies
March 03	Rugby Union: Six Nations; Italy v France, Rome; Wales v Ireland, Cardiff; England v Scotland, London
March 03	Rowing: WomenÕs Head of the River, River Thames, England
March 03	Horseracing: Gulfstream Park Handicap, Florida
March 03	Horseracing: Santa Anita Handicap, California
March 03-4	Skiing: Alpine World Cup (men), Kvitfjell, Norway
March 04	Cycling: World Cycle Speedway Championships, Adelaide, Australia
March 04	Ice Hockey: Superleague season ends, UK
March 04-11	Disabled sport: Special Olympics World Games, Alaska
March 04	Motor sport: NASCAR Winston Cup, Las Vegas, Nevada
March 04	Horseracing: San Carlos Handicap, Santa Anita, California
March 05	Athletics: Los Angeles Marathon, California
March 05-7	Biathlon: World Cup 8, Lake Placid, New York
March 05-11	Golf: Honda Classic, Heron Bay, Coral Springs, Florida
March 05-11	Tennis: Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic, men, Scottsdale, Arizona
March 05-11	Tennis: Citrix Championships, Delray Beach, men, Florida
March 06	Hockey: Varsity Match, Milton Keynes, England
March 06-7	Soccer: Champions League second group stage, Arsenal v Spartak, Lyon v Bayern Munich, Real Madrid v Leeds, Lazio v Anderlecht, Panathinaikos v Manchester Utd, Sturm Graz v Valencia, Deportivo v PSG, Galatasaray v AC Milan
March 06-11	Badminton: All England Open Championships, Birmingham, England
March 06-12	Disabled sport: Alpine World Cup final, Kimberley, Canada
March 07/10	Skiing: Cross-Country World Cup, Oslo, Norway
March 07-11	Disabled sport: Nordic World Cup, Salt Lake City, Utah
March 08-10	Snowboarding: World Junior Championships, Nassfeld Hermagor, Austria
March 08-11	Golf: LPGA WelchÕs/Circle K Championship, Randolph North Golf Course, Tucson, Arizona
March 08-11	Golf: AAMI WomenÕs Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia
March 09-10	Skiing: Nordic Combined World Cup final, Oslo, Norway
March 10	Soccer: Tennents Scottish Cup quarter finals, Scotland
March 10	Cycling: Canberra World Cup, Australia
March 10	Speedway: Australian Grand Prix
March 10	Horseracing: Santa Margarita Handicap, Santa Anita, California
March 10	Horseracing: Santa Anita Oaks, California
March 10	Horseracing: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, Florida
March 10-11	Soccer: FA Cup quarter-finals, England
March 10-11	Rugby League: Silk Cut Challenge Cup quarter-finals, England
March 10-11	Darts: BDO Torremolinos Open, Spain
March 10-11	Rallying: British Rally Championship, Rally of Wales
March 11	Soccer: FA WomenÕs Premier League final, England
March 11	Motor sport: NASCAR Winston Cup, Hampton, Georgia
March 11-16	Bowls: British international indoor series, Belfast, Northern Ireland
March 12-18	Golf: Bay Hill Invitational, Orlando, Florida
March 13	Ice Hockey: Challenge Cup final, UK
March 13-14	Soccer: Champions League second group stage, Manchester Utd v Sturm Graz, Valencia v Panathinaikos, AC Milan v Deportivo, PSG v Galatasaray, Bayern Munich v Arsenal, Spartak v Lyon, Leeds v Lazio, Anderlecht v Real Madrid
March 14	Skiing: Cross-Country World Cup, BorlŠnge, Sweden
March 15-17	Golf: Taiwan LadiesÕ Masters, venue tbc
March 15-18	Golf: Madeira Island Open, Santo da Serra, Portugal
March 15-18	Golf: LPGA Standard Register Ping, Moon Valley Country Club, Phoenix, Arizona
March 15-18	Biathlon: World Cup 8, Holmenkollen, Norway
March 15-19	Cricket: Sri Lanka v England, Third Test, Colombo, Sri Lanka
March 15-19	Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan, Second Test, Hamilton, New Zealand
March 15-25	Curling: World junior championships, Ogden, Utah
March 16-18	Swimming: FINA Diving Grand Prix, Manchester, England
March 17	Rugby Union: Six Nations; France v Wales, Paris / Scotland v Italy, Edinburgh
March 17	Skiing: Cross-Country World Cup, Falun, Sweden
March 17	Rowing: Head of the River, River Thames, England
March 17-18	Darts: BDO German Open, Bochum, Germany
March 17-21	Cricket: West Indies v South Africa, Second Test, Trinidad
March 18	Soccer: Scottish CIS Insurance Cup Final, Hampden Park, Scotland
March 18	Motor sport: NASCAR Winston Cup, Darlington, South Carolina
March 18	Cycling: WomenÕs World Cup, Hamilton, New Zealand
March 18-22	Cricket: India v Australia, Third Test, Chennai, India
March 19-25	Biathlon: World Junior Championships, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
March 19-27	Cycling: Tour of Saudi Arabia
March 21	Cricket: PresidentÕs XI v England, Colombo, Sri Lanka
March 21-24	Cycling: GP Portugal Telecom, Portugal
March 22-25	Golf: Brazil Open, Sao Paulo, Brazil
March 22-25	Golf: LPGA Nabisco Championship, Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California
March 23	Cricket: Sri Lanka v England, 1st One-Day International, Premedasa, Sri Lanka
March 23	Athletics: Engen Grand Prix final, Pretoria, South Africa
March 23	Rowing: Thames World Sculling Challenge, England
March 23-25	Golf: Nedbank MasterCard South African Masters (women), Johannesburg, South Africa
March 23-25	Disabled sport: Alpine European Cup final, Ostschweitz, Switzerland
March 24	Speed Skating: World Short Track Team Championships, Nobeyama, Japan
March 24	Basketball: Uniball Trophy Final, National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England
March 24-25	Skiing: Cross-Country World Cup, Kuopio, Finland
March 25	Cricket: Sri Lanka v England, 2nd One-Day International, Premedasa, Sri Lanka
March 25	Cricket: India v Australia, 1st One-Day International, Bangalore, India
March 25	Hockey: EHA Cup Final, Milton Keynes, England
March 25	Motor sport: NASCAR Winston Cup, Bristol, Tennessee
March 26-Apr 1	Golf: BellSouth Classic, Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia
March 27	Cricket: Sri Lanka v England, 3rd One-Day International, Colombo, Sri Lanka
March 27-Apr 1	Snooker: Benson and Hedges Irish Masters, Goffs Complex, County Kildare
March 27	Dog racing: Greyhound Grand National, Wimbledon, England
March 27-31	Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan, Third Test, Christchurch, New Zealand
March 27-Apr 8	Polo: FIP World Cup Championship, Melbourne, Australia
March 28	Cricket: India v Australia, 2nd One-Day International, Pune, India
March 28-Apr 1	Bowls: World Indoor Championships, Belfast, Northern Ireland
March 29-Apr 1	Golf: Open de Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
March 29-Apr 2	Cricket: West Indies v South Africa, Third Test, Barbados
March 31	Cricket: India v Australia, 3rd One-Day International, Indore, India
March 31-Apr 1	Ice Hockey: Superleague play-offs, semi-finals and final, UK
March 31-Apr 1	Rugby League: Silk Cut Challenge Cup semi-finals, England
March 31-Apr 1	Raquetball: All Ireland Singles Championships, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
March 31-Apr 7	Sailing: International Flying Fifteen World Championship, Durban, South Africa

WORLD CUP 2002 QUALIFYING MATCHES
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Costa Rica v Trinidad & Tobago, San Jose
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Malta v Denmark, Valletta
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Bulgaria v Iceland, Sofia
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; England v Finland, Liverpool
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Germany v Albania, Leverkusen
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Yugoslavia v Switzerland, Belgrade
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Russia v Slovenia, Moscow
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Luxembourg v Faroe Islands, Luxembourg
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Andorra v Netherlands, Barcelona
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Cyprus v Ireland Republic, Nicosia
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Northern Ireland v Czech Republic, Belfast
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Sweden v Macedonia FYR, Gothenburg
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Turkey v Slovakia, Istanbul
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Azerbaijan v Moldova, Baku
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Ukraine v Belarus, Kiev
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Norway v Poland, Oslo
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Armenia v Wales, Yerevan
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Croatia v Latvia, Osijek
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Scotland v Belgium, Glasgow
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Bosnia-Herzegovina v Austria, Sarajevo
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Spain v Liechtenstein, venue tbc
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Hungary v Lithuania, venue tbc
March 24	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Romania v Italy, Bucharest
March 25	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Mexico v Jamaica, Mexico City
March 27	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Colombia v Bolivia, Bogota
March 27	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Peru v Chile, Lima
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Uruguay v Paraguay, Montevideo
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Ecuador v Brazil, Quito
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Argentina v Venezuela, Buenos Aires
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Albania v England, venue tbc
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Greece v Germany, Athens
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Russia v Faroe Islands, Moscow
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Switzerland v Luxembourg, Zurich
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Slovenia v Yugoslavia, Ljubljana
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Portugal v Netherlands, Porto
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Cyprus v Estonia, Limassol
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Andorra v Ireland Republic, Barcelona
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Czech Republic v Denmark, Prague
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Bulgaria v Northern Ireland, Sofia
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Moldova v Sweden, Chisinau
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Slovakia v Azerbaijan, Trnava
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Macedonia FYR v Turkey, venue tbc
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Poland v Armenia, Warsaw
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Wales v Ukraine, Cardiff
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Belarus v Norway, venue tbc
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Scotland v San Marino, Glasgow
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Liechtenstein v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vaduz
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Austria v Israel, Vienna
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Georgia v Romania, Tbilisi
March 28	Soccer: World Cup qualifier; Italy v Lithuania, Trieste